Published Tuesday, 17 April 2012
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Fracking report
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Fracking debate
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The process, which has been known to trigger earthquakes, was halted in England last year after causing two tremors near Blackpool.
But Tuesday's government-commissioned report is recommending that fracking can continue with care and the advice means thousands of new wells could be constructed across the UK.
"I will consider this latest report, noting that its content is limited to the issue of earth tremors and does not address other issues and concerns around fracking," Environment Minister Alex Attwood said.
"I have always said that all appropriate planning and environmental standards will strictly apply on the issue of fracking - this approach will not be compromised."
The right approach is to ask do we want to or need to extract the gas and can it be done safely? A rush to fracking is ill-judged.
Environment Minister Alex Attwood
The report has called for "an effective monitoring system to provide near real-time locations and magnitudes of any seismic events as part of any future fracking operations".
Australian mining firm Tamboran Resources have been carrying out preliminary analysis tests since last year on the underground shale in a site in the south-west of Fermanagh and in north Leitrim.
As well as concerns regarding tremors, the fracking process has also been dogged by allegations of pollution and it is feared damage could be caused as a result to tourism and farming - the county's main industries.
"I continue to work with the Dublin government on the issue, given that the Lough Allen basin is a shared cross-border asset. I have also met Tamboran and made clear my approach," Mr Attwood added.
Tamboran Resources insists that chemicals will not be used during any fracking in Fermanagh.
But Green Party leader Steven Agnew is against the process and believes that, as more people learn about it, concerns over fracking will continue to grow.
"This report only investigated the potential for fracking to cause earthquakes without looking at the bigger picture and the even more detrimental effects of the process," Mr Agnew said.
"This process has taken place in America, and there's an independent environmental protection agency there that's doing a report which will conclude in 2014.
"Let's wait and see what we can learn from the American experience before we make any major decisions that could have a devastating impact here in Northern Ireland."